Factcheck.org Goes After Grayson

I, for one, was super-pumped when I saw that Factcheck was calling out a Democrat for going too far in his attacks on his opponent. 

The headline is galling:  Rep. Grayson Lowers the Bar.  But this is exactly the kind of headline we need to see about Democrats.  We should celebrate when Factcheck finds something to be exasperated at a Democrat for.  It means Grayson is doing something right.

It's Not Our Fault We're Bad at Politics

That seems to be the theme of the recent statements by Gibbs, John Kerry, Joe Biden, and even Barack Obama.  They are mad as hell that Democrats aren't excited by them anymore, and they're not going to take it anymore. 

Let's see if Cenk read the Rolling Stone interview and what kind of rage he will bring to the show about it.

Axelrod Article with Insider Tidbits

TNR has a cover article on David Axelrod that offers some insight into the White House.  The piece focuses mainly on Axelrod's biography and frustration with the pace of change in Washington under the boss he got elected and believed in probably more than anybody else in the country.

The outrage over the AIG bonuses was highlighted as an issue where Axelrod's political advise differed from the policy advise the president was getting from Geithner.  The article goes so far as to say that Geithner was arguing that countries cease to have advanced economies if the hallowedness and sanctity of its contracts is called into question.  We all know that Axelrod lost this fight.  Reading between the lines it seems like this issue was presented to Obama as politics versus policy.  There was nobody at the White House making the argument that allowing AIG employees to walk away with our money (as Cenk would put it) was bad policy, only that it was bad optics.  Geither probably made Obama feel noble while purposely pissing off the American electorate on both sides of the isle. 

The article also reveals that Obama is very reluctant to go after the Republicans.  Cenk often questions whether Obama's turn toward populism and progressivism as the election approaches is a cynical ploy.  If this article is to be believed it appears that Obama really thinks talking nice to Republicans is going to change the tone in Washington and that he's only been convinced to attack as the disastrous election looms.

Cenk Mentioned at NYTimes.com

Cenk's article, "Why Does Barack Obama Love the Estblishment So Much?" got a mention in a NYTimes online piece this weekend.  The NYTimes piece, which is a weekly column summarizing the reaction of the online left and right current events, is painful to read as the author seems to struggle to understand the left.  The writer, Tobin Harshaw, covers the hippie punching incident with a bit a bewilderment. 

I'm disappointed that Cenk missed the hippie punching story.  I didn't hear them mention it on Friday's show, and I'm sure it's something Cenk and Ben would have been interested in discussing. 

Personally I don't like the term hippie punching.  I had never heard of it before this week, but it's meaning seems obvious given the context.  I don't like it because I don't identify myself as a hippie, and I certainly wouldn't call Cenk a hippie, but TYT Nation is definitely apart of the group that the White House has been punching.  It is a term that seems make it even easier for this Tobin guy to dismiss the progressive criticisms of this president. 

Grayson's New Ad

This is strong.



We need find more Grayson's and Feingold's out there.  By the way, I just donated $10 to Feingold.  You should too.

Hippie Punching

Cenk is going to flip-the-fuck-out on Friday's show. Someone confronted the White House about their attitude toward the left last night.

According to Greg Sargent, on a conference call with liberal bloggers, Axelrod was pleading for help rallying the base.  Susan Madrak of Crooks and Liars asked him if he had heard of "hippie punching."  "We're the girl you'll take under the bleachers but you won't be seen with in the light of day," she told him.  You can see Susie's account of the story here and here. 

Sargent reports that Susie told Axelrod to stop making our jobs harder, and he replied by saying, "Right back at ya, rick back at ya." 

I think it needs to be made clear--and I'm sure Cenk will pick up this point--that it is not any blogger's job to motivate the base or make the White House's job easier.  This is not about our feelings.  It is about policy, and broken promises, and not standing up for what you said you believed in. 

I can't wait for the show tonight. 

Cenk Wrong About Joaquin

Here is just a little reminder about how wrong Cenk was about Joaquin Phoenix's appearance on Letterman in 2009.



Cenk comes out, guns blazing, that Joaquin is not faking during the Letterman interview.  Ana comes out equally as strong saying that Phoenix is obviously faking.  Jayar and Jesus ride the fence a bit more, but ultimately come down on Ana's side.